Aquatic device



y 1965 R. B. ANDERSON 3,194,206

AQUATIC DEVICE Filed Dec. 20, 1963 ROBERT B. ANDERSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,194,206 AQUATIC DEVICE Robert B. Anderson, P.0. Box 888, Main Post Oilice, Miami, Fla. Filed Dec. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 332,141

9 Claims. (Cl. 11528) This invention relates to a water craft and, more particularly,.to means for manually propelling a water craft. As is perhaps well known, there are numerous types of amusement devices used by swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. The instant invention relates to such a device. More specifically, the instant invention teaches a novel means for propelling a buoyant member, such as surf board type water craft, through water and comprises a buoyant body equipped with a transversely disposed frame beneath the buoyant member which is adapted to be pivotally rotated from its connection to the member in acyclical fore and aft movement and which frame includes a transversely-disposed flipper arrangement pivotally carried on the frame which is adapted to displace water when the frame is moved rearwardly, that is, from a forward position, causing the buoyant member to be thrust forwardly and to feather and reduce the drag thereon as the frame is moved forwardly, that is, from the stern of the craft, for a next succeeding power stroke.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a buoyant member which is adapted to be propelled through the water and which is equipped with the improvement comprising a frame pivotally connected to the buoyant member to cyclically move in a forward and afterward direction below the member in a circular path about a pivotal connection in the buoyant body and including a flipper arrangement connected to the frame adapted to displace water when the frame is moved rearwardly and to feather when the frame is moved forwardly for a subsequent power stroke.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a water craft of the type described hereinafter which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise adapted for water enthusiasts to utilize in propelling a surf board type water craft through water.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a water craft equipped with a propelling means constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the operation of the water craft and propelling means during a first cycle or power stroke;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating the operation of the water craft and propelling means during a second cycle or repositioning stroke; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view partly in cross-section taken along the plane of the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, and referring particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 11 designates a buoyant body or member in the form of a surf board having a rounded forward end 12 or bow and an indented rearward end 13 or stern. A transverse bar 14 is connected to the body and, as shown, extends through the body in a bore which may be provided for supporting the bar in a position adjacent the rounded forward end 12. The

propelling means includes a frame, generally designated by the numeral 17, and includes a first and a second arm 18 and 19 joined by an integral U-shaped portion 21 and a second transverse bar with a flipper arrangement, to be described, carried by the second bar. The frame is pivotally fastened to the ends of the bar 14 as at 22 and 23 for fore and aft movement below the main plane of the buoyant member 11. The flipper arrangement for propelling the memberis connected to the frame, as isillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The flipper arrangement includes a flap member 28 disposed intermediate the length of the frame and mounted for pivotal rotation about an edge 30 which is curved over a lower second transverse member 24 supported at each end by the arms as at 26 and 27 respectively. .The flap member 28 is generally flat with the marginal edges thereof extending over the arms constraining the flap member to pivotal rotation about the edge 30 on one side of the plane defined by the frame 17. In the embodiment shown, the first and second arms 18 and 19 and the integral U-shaped portion 21 are formed from a length of aluminum tubing which has been bent to form a loop with the arms 18 and 19 being slightly bowed outwardly so that the maximum after .or sternwise position of the frame is substantially as shown in FIG. 2; that is, overlaying a thickened center portion 29 which tapers from the forward end to the thicker rearward end and is disposed between relatively thin side wing portions 31 and 32.

' In' use, the frame 17 including the flipper arrangement may be used to propel a buoyant member, in the form of a surf board 11, through water. A person may lie on the supper surface 34 as is indicated by the arrows 36 and reach over the wings 31 and 32 to grasp the arms 18 and 19 respectively. The frame, and conse quently the flipper arrangement, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, are adapted to be manipulated into successive fore and aft positions by movement of the side arms. Initially, the frame and flipper arrangement will be at the equilibrium position shown in FIG. 4 due to the forces of gravity. The frame is pushed forward .in the direction shown in FIG. 3 positioning it for a power stroke, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 and as this movement occurs, the water displaced by the movement will force the flap member to leave its position adjacent the arms and diverge or feather permitting relatively unrestricted forward movement, or, otherwise stated, a flow of water through the frame which is covered by the flap member during the power stroke. As the arms of the frame are pulled rearwardly so that the portion 21 traces a circular path in the direction indicated in FIG. 2 the flap member assumes the position shown in FIG. 2 as the water is pushed rearwardly causing the member to be moved forwardly in accordance with Newtons second law.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a waterway transportation device of the class having a buoyant weight-bearing member operated upon the fluid displacement principle of Archimedes and a propulsion device operating upon the reaction principle of Newtons second law wherein the device comprises a first transverse bar carried by the member, a frame extending below the main plane of the buoyant member including a first arm fastened adjacent one end of said bar and a second arm fastened adjacent the other end of said bar, said frame being pivotal together with respect to the member for fore and aft movement of the frame, a second transverse bar connected adjacent each end thereof to one of the arms and in spaced relation with respect to the first bar, and a flap member supported by the second transverse bar and freely rotatable with respect to the second bar from a position aligned with the arms to a position at an angle diverging with respect to the arms.

2. A buoyant weighnbearing member having a propulsion device connected thereto as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap member depends from the second transverse member with a portion thereof overlaying the frame when in the position aligned with the arms to limit pivotal rotation of the member to one side of the frame.

3. A buoyant weight-bearing member having a propulsion device connected thereto as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap member is pivotally connected to the second transverse bar along the transverse length thereof with the upper edge of said flap member being Wrapped around the said second transverse bar to bear and pivotally rotate about one side of the frame.

4. A buoyant member including: a first transverse member carried by the buoyant member and a second parallel transverse member in spaced apart relation from the first transverse member defining a plane extending below the buoyant member, means connecting the said transverse members, and a flap member journalled to the second transverse member, said flap member being freely rotatable through an are on one side of the connecting means about an axis through the points at which it is journalled to the second transverse member, the said means connecting the said transverse members being rotatable from a fore and aft position with respect to the buoyant member.

5. A buoyant member as set forth in claim 4 wherein the said means comprises spaced arms each pivotally connected at one end respectively to the said first transverse member and intermediate the length thereof to said second transverse member.

6. For use in propelling a buoyant member having a forward end and a rearward end through water, a propelling device mounted adjacent the forward end comprising, a first transverse member carried by the buoyant 4 member, a frame defining a plane and including a pair of aligned arms journalled adjacent the distal end of the first transverse member and extending below the buoyant member and a second transverse member spaced apart from the first member and disposed below the buoyant member connecting the arms; and a flap member rotatably supported on the second transverse member, said frame being rotatable from a fore and aft position with respect to the buoyant member and said flap member being rotatable with respect to the second transverse member on one side of the plane.

7. A buoyant member as in claim 6 wherein the buoyant member is a substantially flat body having a substantially plane top surface, the said body having a thickened center portion and marginal wings of reduced thickness defining a shoulder along the marginal edges of the underside.

8. A buoyant member as set forth in claim 7 wherein the frame is adapted to be aligned with the buoyant member with one of the arms overlaying and abutting each of the said shoulders along the lengths thereof.

9. For use with a buoyant member adapted to be propelled through water, the improvement comprising, a frame, means to pivotally connect the member and frame for cyclical movement of the frame in a fore and after direction below the member in a series of planes generally defining a transversely-disposed cylindrical path, and a flipper arrangement pivotally connected to the frame including a transversely-disposed member constrained to movement through an are on the after side of the frame only when the frame is moved in a forward direction and to be substantially aligned with the frame when said frame is moved in an after direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED UTATES PATENTS 122,823 1/72 Forward 3O 2,139,022 12/38 Johnson 11522.3 3,122,122 2/64 Jenkins 115-30 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

RALPH D. BLAKESLEE, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WATERWAY TRANSPORTATION DEVICE OF THE CLASS HAVING A BUOYANT WEIGHT-BEARING MEMBER OPERATED UPON THE FLUID DISPLACEMENT PRINCIPLE OF ARCHIMEDES AND A PROPULSION DEVICE OPERATING UPON THE REACTION PRINCIPLE OF NEWTON''S SECOND LAW WHEREIN THE DEVICE COMPRISES A FIRST TRANSVERSE BAR CARRIED BY THE MEMBER, A FRAME EXTENDING BELOW THE MAIN PLANE OF THE BUOYANT MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST ARM FASTENED ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID BAR AND A SECOND ARM FASTENED ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SAID BAR, SAID FRAME BEING PIVOTAL TOGETHER WITH RESPECT TO THE MEMBER FOR FORE AND AFT MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME, A SECOND TRANSVERSE BAR CONNECTED ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF TO ONE OF THE ARMS AND IN SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST BAR, AND A FLAP MEMBER SUPPORTED BY THE SECOND TRANSVERSE BAR AND FREELY ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND BAR FROM A POSITION ALIGNED WITH THE ARMS TO A POSITION AT AN ANGLE DIVERGING WITH RESPECT TO THE ARMS. 